Robert Prevost Elected First American Pope, Takes Name Leo XIV

9 May 2025

VATICAN CITY: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, assuming the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American in history to ascend to the papacy.

White smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6.09 pm local time on Thursday, signifying that the 133 cardinals gathered in conclave had successfully elected a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, as reported by the Catholic News Agency (CNA).

Thousands of faithful gathered at St Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as the bells of St Peter’s Basilica tolled, officially confirming the election of the new pontiff.

The 69-year-old pope later appeared on the central balcony of the basilica, greeting the jubilant crowd with his first words: “Peace be with you all.”

“I too would like that this greeting of peace enters into your heart, reaching your families, and all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you,” he said in his address.

Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, urging Catholics to remember his legacy of unity, and outlined a vision for a Church that embraces outreach and dialogue.

“We must learn together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, engages in dialogue, always open to receive – like this square with its arms open to all, everyone who sees our charity, our presence, our dialogue, our love,” he said.

Born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV is of Italian, French, and Spanish descent. He was ordained to the priesthood in June 1982 after completing theological studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

He spent a decade as a parish priest and seminary lecturer in Trujillo, north-western Peru, before being appointed Bishop of Chiclayo in 2014, a role he held until 2023. In 2015, he also acquired Peruvian citizenship.

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, where he was responsible for the appointment of bishops worldwide and for overseeing investigations into allegations against members of the episcopate.

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a historic turning point for the Church, with the world now watching as the American-born pontiff takes up leadership amid complex spiritual and doctrinal challenges facing the global Catholic community.